Dog Omega Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are a major part of a balanced diet, regardless of whether the food is for an animal or a human. There are two types of fatty acids, namely essential and non essential. The essential fatty acids are those fatty acids that are not produced by the body and hence need to be consumed while non essential fatty acids are those that are produced in the body itself. However, which fatty acids are essential fatty acids differs on the basis of the species in question. For example, the fatty acid arachidonic acid is only essential for cats and not for dogs.

Furthermore, there may be a situation which results in some non essential fatty acids becoming essential owing to some form of deficiency in the dog. Fatty acids created in the body depend upon enzymes, the deficiency of which can push the body to require it from external sources.

Although there are three types of fatty acids, only two of these are beneficial to a dog’s body. The important fatty acids are omega- 3 and omega-6 and the unimportant type is omega-9. Omega-3 fatty acids include three main fatty acids namely Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Similarly, Omega-9 acids include Linoleic Acid (LA), Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), Dihomo-Gamma-Linolenic Acid (DGLA) and Arachidonic Acid (AA). Of these the body can process GLA to form GLA.

As per different clinical trials and researches conducted in various parts of the world, the requirement of omega-6 fatty acids is much more than omega-3 fatty acids with the ratio being pegged at anything between 10:1 and 5:1. The pet food manufacturers provide such ratios in their products but every dog owner should pay more attention to the quantity instead of ratio in their dog’s food.

There are multiple problems that appropriate consumption of fatty acids can prevent from occurring. Some of these include :

1. Dog Allergies:
The basic cause for allergies is the over reaction of the immune system to some foreign particle that it mistakes for something extremely harmful. Fatty acids can prevent such problems from occurring.

2. Dog Arthritis:

Arthritis is a problem in which joints get inflamed and cause pain and difficulty in movement. Research has proven that omega-3 fatty acids like EPA can help in countering this type of inflammation.

3. Dog Shedding and dull hair coat:

This is a problem that most dog owners have been correcting by feeding their dog food that contains fatty acids for a long time now. In fact, this is one of the things that many dog owners associate with when it comes to buying pet food containing fatty acids, so that their dog’s can have Dog Shiny Coats.

4. Dog Heart Disease and other heart issues:

As per reports from multiple clinical trials across the world, fatty acids have been shown to have a positive effect on the heart of many pets. For example, dogs with supplementary fatty acid diets have been known to not suffer from ventricular arrhythmia’s. Furthermore, it is also believed that using dog food with appropriate levels of fatty acids can result in controlled blood pressure for the dog, and help in avoiding Dog High Blood Pressure.

As is more than evident, omega fatty acids hold the potential to be very useful in preventing health related problems with dogs. Hence, after proper consultation, every dog owner should try to supplement their dogs’ natural diet with such supplements.

Suggested Products

Royal Coat EFA Express for Dog Skin and Coat Problems
Blue Basics Turkey and Potato Recipe to avoid allergies
Force Dog Food
Nupro Dietary Supplement for Small Breed Dogs
Nupro Dietary Supplement for Large Breed Dogs
Joint Support Supplement for Large Dog Breeds
Joint Rescue Super Strength Chewable for Dogs
Old Timer for Canine Inflammation
Old Bones For Dog Arthritis
Stimmune for Dogs with Allergies
Hearty Heart for Dog Heart Disease